No, GOP Doesn't Mean 'Government Of The People'

A lot of times when writing a headline on an article or post in which Republicans are mentioned, journalists will use the abbreviation "GOP" because it fits a tight spot a lot more readily than R-e-p-u-b-l-i-c-a-n.

But it turns out a lot of people have had no idea that the three letters are an abbreviation for the party's historic nickname, the Grand Old Party.

A 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll found that while 45 percent accurately knew what the three letters stood for, a distressing 35 percent thought it meant "Government of the People."

But it wasn't all bad news, at least not from the perspective of journalists. Asked who they trusted more, journalists or politicians, 76 percent of those surveyed chose the former; just six percent the latter.

Of course, this was probably the equivalent of stacking the deck in favor of journalists. Might as well have asked, who do you trust ore, journalists or used car salesmen?